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segunda-feira, 8 de abril de 2013

Common Sense Isn't So Common

Copyright (c) 2013 Misty D Coplen

We all know better than to stick our fingers into electrical outlets or stick a fork in the toaster when it is on. We know that metal in microwaves is bad- and has been known to cause damage not just to the appliance but to the poor sucker who had to learn the hard way. So why aren't we more cautious about the chemicals we use in cleaning our homes?

I thought about this once. When I clean, and it is usually barefooted, no gloves, just a simple cleaning of the house, I would use the store bought things, Windex, 409, Tilex, Comet, and stuff to clean the floor. (Basically I would buy the cheapest thing that did the job that needed to be done with out a second thought). I would climb into the shower, spray the "Scrubbing Bubbles" and let it do its magic, because like the ad says- "We work harder so you don't have to". Well, I am down for that! Do more in less time. Awesome.

But every time I was done cleaning I felt sick, light headed, and didn't want to do much of anything else. It never occurred to me that the residue left behind from all those "cleaning" products where now in me. I inhaled them while cleaning, and much of the time after too. The chemicals had been absorbed into my body through my skin. It was no wonder I wasn't feeling good- even though the house did.

So I dove into a research about the everyday cleaners I used and the information astonished me. A recent study proved that indoor air pollution is one of the top five highest ranking environmental health problems in America with chemical levels up to 70 times higher than outside. And the environmental toxicity is a contributing factor in several disorders and diseases.

It scared me to know there are nearly 10,000 new chemicals introduced into the environment every 5 years. A recent study on new born umbilical cord blood found an average of 200 chemicals and pollutants. Out of those 200 chemicals and toxicants, it was found over 70 compounds were potentially cancer causing.

That doesn't include the toxicants related to illnesses such as Autism- which the rates in America over the last few decades have gone from 1 in 2500 children to 1 in 150 or ADHD which has reached an astonishing 4.4 million children diagnosed in the United States alone.

Yet 350 million people around the world suffer from Arthritis which is caused by the body's natural reaction to fight off bacteria and viruses. Arthritis is not just in the joints and bones. It can cause serious damage to other organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys. And it is no coincidence that 60% of those suffering from this disease in the United States are women. Why? Because when it comes down to it, women use more chemical products than men and thus expose themselves more to the toxicants. Since there is no escaping the chemicals in the air we breathe, the food we eat, or the water we drink our bodies are constantly being bombarded with toxicants. And it is not just in the environment. The chemicals used in soaps, hair spray, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, all play a factor in what you expose your body to and the levels of toxicity within your body.

So how do we protect ourselves from these invading toxicants? How do we lower the air pollution in our homes, and protect our children from developing diseases or disorders? It's not like we can put plastic plugs in the electrical socket the way we do when we have toddlers exploring the home. Or the common sense NOT to drink 409. Maybe we should stop and think about everything our bodies are exposed to, and find a way to get back to nature. We can't stop what has been done, but we can change in order to improve the quality of our life by radically reducing the use of chemicals in our personal care and cleaning.

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My name is Misty Coplen and I clean vacation rentals professionally on the Big Island of Hawaii. My goal is to improve the quality of life by radically reducing the use of chemicals used in personal care and cleaning. If you would like to know about the chemical free products I use to clean with, please go to http://MistyCoplen.norwex.biz and let's get back to nature.